713.1311/305: Telegram
The Minister in Guatemala (Hanna) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:45 p.m.]
32. My 31, March 19, 7 p.m. Article 16 of the draft treaty of peace and amity which has just been presented to the Conference by the Salvadoran delegation reads as follows: [Page 455]
“The territory of each one of the contracting republics being an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Central America, of which each one of the Central American states is a detached part with the capacity of joining with the others in the organization of a national government, when circumstances permit and it suits their general interest, each one of the high contracting parties solemnly obligates itself to respect the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the other states and of its own state, to the extent and under the conditions which exist at the present time, and not [to affect] them by taking any action or by entering into international agreements which directly or indirectly detract from them, or which constitute a danger to their preservation. They also agree to guard the integrity of the Central American sovereignty and territory and to defend it in common with the means at their disposal.
The provisions of this clause will not apply to the boundary questions pending between the signatory republics, which will be settled in the manner agreed to in this treaty.”
The draft treaty has not been made public and information concerning it was given to the Legation in confidence. It is understood that the Conference has not yet considered the article referred to.
It is possible that the suggested article is intended to apply in case the United States determines to exercise the rights it possesses under the Bryan–Chamorro treaty.25
Repeated to Central American missions by air mail.
- See section entitled “Nicaraguan Canal Route—Convention Between the United States and Nicaragua,” signed August 5, 1914, Foreign Relations, 1916, pp. 849 ff.↩